Scriptures: Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV) – “Moses said to the Lord, ‘Pardon your servant, Lord.  I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant.  I am slow of speech and tongue.’  The Lord said to him, ‘Who gave human beings their mouths?  Who makes them deaf or mute?  Who gives them sight or makes them blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’”

Revelation 21:5-6 (NIV) – “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’  Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’  He said to me: ‘It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.’”

Message: Comparisons, competition, and calls for censorship abound.  We are bombarded by messages through communication media no other era before us has known.  This messaging can be confusing, nonsensical, and overwhelming.  The communication onslaught can result in crippling stress and anxiety and cause us to shut down altogether.  Many times the overload of conflicting messages has caused me to shut down.

At these times, when conflicting messaging overwhelms me, I am overcome with questions.  Which is God’s Will?  Is it the call of Christ for re-evaluation, or is it temptation causing me to question my faith?  I feel frozen and lose all confidence in myself.  The Bible, which at one time was a textbook in our universities, has so many answers and wisdom.  Therefore, I turn to my Bible and listen to what God is saying.

These unlikely verses from Moses and John provide renewed confidence to continue forward, listening as best I can through the “sounding brass” and “clanging cymbals” of the world’s messaging.  I am listening for my Savior, for my God.  I hear Him through these verses.

Prayer: Father God, as we pour our hearts out to You in praise, in sorrow, in profound need, or joyous thanksgiving, thank You for hearing and answering our prayers.  We know that You are here listening, caring, soothing, and healing even when we are overwhelmed by the noise of the world.  Thank You for Your still small voice, in Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Bette Hillman